and, whatever is to be our chance in this lottery of our parents,
be assured that my fortune shall be devoted to your happiness and his.

_Lady Rod_. Generous, indeed, cousin--but not a whit nobler, I assure you,
than your brother Sandy believes of you.--And, be assured, sir, that we
shall both remember it, while the heart feels, or the memory retains a
sense of gratitude.--But now, sir, let me ask one question:--Pray, how is
your mother affected in this business?

_Eger_. She knows of my passion, and will, I am sure, be a friend to the
common cause.

_Lady Rod_. Ah! that's lucky. Our first step then must be to take her
advice upon our conduct, so as to keep our fathers in the dark till we can
hit off some measure that will wind them about till our ain purpose, and
the common interest of our ain passion.

_Eger_. You are very right, madam, for, should my father suspect my
brother's affection for your ladyship, or mine for Constantia, there is no
guessing what wou'd be the consequence.--His whole happiness depends upon
this bargain with my lord; for it gives him the possession of three
boroughs, and those, madam, are much dearer to him than the happiness of
his children. I am sorry to say it, but, to gratify his political rage, he
wou'd sacrifice every social tie, that is dear to friend or family.
[_Exeunt._

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

_ACT IV. SCENE I_.

_Enter Sir_ PERTINAX, _and Counsellor_ PLAUSIBLE.

_Sir Per_. No, no.--Come away, Counsellor Plausible;--come away,
I say;--let them chew upon it.--Why, counsellor, did you ever see so
impertinent, so meddling, and so obstinate a blockhead, as that Serjeant
Eitherside? Confound the fellow--he has put me out of aw temper.

_Plaus_. He is very positive, indeed, Sir Pertinax,--and no doubt was
intemperate and rude. But, Sir Pertinax, I wou'd not break off the match
notwithstanding; for certainly, even without the boroughs, it is an
advantageous bargain both to you and your son.

_Sir Per_. But, zounds! Plausible, do you think I will give up the
nomination till three boroughs?--Why I wou'd rather give him twenty, nay
thirty thousand pounds in any other part of the bargain:--especially at
this juncture, when votes are likely to become so valuable.--Why, man, if
a certain affair comes on, they will rise above five hundred per cent.

_Plaus_. You judge very rightly, Sir Pertinax;--but what shall we do in
this case? for Mr. Serjeant insists that you positi